Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak will likely be facing multiple charges including for alleged embezzlement and bribery with government money following a probe into suspicions that he was involved in funds having been looted from state-run fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Reuters cited incumbent Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as saying on June 19.

Those charges would be based on abuse of power when Najib was prime minister, he said, adding that Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor was also being investigated in connection with 1MDB since “a lot of money” is believed to have gone to her too.

Mahathir told Reuters in an interview that Malaysian investigators already “have an almost perfect case” against the principal suspects who allegedly defrauded 1MDB and misappropriated billions of dollars in public funds. He also described Najib, who had founded 1MDB, as playing a “central role” in the scandal.

“He was totally responsible for 1MDB. Nothing could be done without his signature, and we have his signature on all the deals entered into by 1MDB. Therefore, he is responsible,” Mahathir told the news agency.

The 1MDB scandal also involved other countries such as Singapore, Switzerland and the US. As a result of a probe into what it called “kleptocracy at its worst,” the US Department of Justice has alleged that more than $4.5 billion were misappropriated from 1MDB and that about $700 million of that ended up in Najib’s personal bank accounts.

Mahathir said he expected Malaysia to make its first arrest in the case “within months” and “hopefully” start a trial by the end of the year.

“When we go to the courts, we will have clear evidence of the wrongdoing. We cannot afford to lose,” Mahathir said.

Najib has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and repeated last week that he did not take money from 1MDB.

Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak will likely be facing multiple charges including for alleged embezzlement and bribery with government money following a probe into suspicions that he was involved in funds having been looted from state-run fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Reuters cited incumbent Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as saying on June 19.

Those charges would be based on abuse of power when Najib was prime minister, he said, adding that Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor was also being investigated in connection with 1MDB since “a lot of money” is believed to have gone to her too.

Mahathir told Reuters in an interview that Malaysian investigators already “have an almost perfect case” against the principal suspects who allegedly defrauded 1MDB and misappropriated billions of dollars in public funds. He also described Najib, who had founded 1MDB, as playing a “central role” in the scandal.

“He was totally responsible for 1MDB. Nothing could be done without his signature, and we have his signature on all the deals entered into by 1MDB. Therefore, he is responsible,” Mahathir told the news agency.

The 1MDB scandal also involved other countries such as Singapore, Switzerland and the US. As a result of a probe into what it called “kleptocracy at its worst,” the US Department of Justice has alleged that more than $4.5 billion were misappropriated from 1MDB and that about $700 million of that ended up in Najib’s personal bank accounts.

Mahathir said he expected Malaysia to make its first arrest in the case “within months” and “hopefully” start a trial by the end of the year.

“When we go to the courts, we will have clear evidence of the wrongdoing. We cannot afford to lose,” Mahathir said.

Najib has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and repeated last week that he did not take money from 1MDB.